"So are you excited!"Cat asks that morning over the phone.

"Yea, kinda!" I say enthusiastically. "Um.. why exactly did you call?" I ask.

"Well today is graduation and I was wondering if you were happy." She giggles on the other end.

"Oh… Ok. So do you still want me to pick you up?" I ask her.

"Yep! Thanks Robbie! I have to go get ready but I'll see you in about 20 minutes?"

"Sure! See you then." I end the call and get up. I rummage through my closet looking for my black slacks and black dress shoes. I found a thin black tie and a white dress shirt. I throw everything on and tie my tie. In about 15 minutes I head over to Cat's house. She was wearing a red dress that went up to her mid thigh with black heels. She look absolutely stunning.

When we got to the school we went inside to pick up out cap and gown. Cat stops me.

"Your tie is weird." She says grabbing it. She pulls me close to her and pulls the tie to straighten the knot. "Better… I don't get why men can't tie their own ties correctly."

We both chuckle and get out black with a red and white emblem on the chest. The cap was black with a red string on the side.

"So who's read your speech?" She asks me while we take our seats.

I look over at her and answer. "No one." The principle goes up on stage and starts to talk.

"Welcome to the graduation ceremony for the class of 2013. I would like to congratulate each and every one of you for an outstanding year. Now before we begin, I would like to welcome out Valedictorian, Robert Shapiro up to the stage to give his valedictory address. Robert." I get out of my seat and walk up the steps towards the podium.

I clear my throat and look out at everyone in the audience. Then I begin.

"Life isn't about knowing exactly what you want to do, where you want to go, who you're going to be. It's not about taking a guess and following where it leads to. It's about making mistake, and learning from them. It's about falling in love, and getting your heart broken over and over again, until you find that one person. It's not going to be easy. There will be many obstacles, many mountains, many failures, but I can promise you, that it is worth it. Because with every failure, you will succeed in something much greater. People always looks for the reward in life, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but sometimes there isn't one. Not everything in life will put a smile on your face. Sometimes you just have to pick your head up and forget about it, because sometimes the journey is greater than the reward. You have to remember that in life. We are all here to teach each other a lesson and if I could tell you all something right now, it would be to never take advantage of life. Don't ever think that you can do it tomorrow. Don't ever put it off because you're scared of what might happen. Take the risk and do it now, because there may never be another tomorrow. After today, we will never eat lunch in the Asphalt Café again, and we will never open out lockers again. Soon enough, we will forget our combinations, then we will forget faces, and forget names, and finally all of this, high school, will be a memory. So in the time that we have left this summer, before college, take too many picture, laugh too much, make memories you will never forget, because every sixty seconds you waist upset, is a minute of happiness you can never get back. So to the class of 2013, live your life to the fullest and never be afraid because there may not be another tomorrow." The entire speech I was staring at Cat. She was smiling the whole time but by the end I could see a tear stream down her face. It was all true. Everything I said.

The crowd starts to clap and some people even start to cheer. The principle thanks me and I walk back to my seat.

The principle started to call the names.

"Andre Harris…"

"Beck Oliver…"

"Robert Shapiro…"

"Cat Valentine…"

"Tori Vega…"

"Jade West…"

As each and every student went up, they shook hands with the principle, received their diploma, and shook hands with some of the board members. We all went back to our seats and clapped for all of the people we grew up with, the ones we learned to love and to hate.

Finally the last name is called. The principle steps forward towards the podium and taps on it to make sure it is working.

"Before we finish, one of our teachers and I would just like to say a couple words. I became principle this year. At first not many of the students liked me. I knew that would happen. They're teenagers, I'm an adult, we want different things, and we see things differently. But as the year progressed, I learned more about each and every one of you. I learned that you are all amazing, talented, passionate students. You have dreams and goals that I know you will accomplish. All of you will go very far in life." She takes a step back and lets the next person come up to speak.

Sikowitz stands up and walks over to the podium. He clears his throat and starts to speak, "I've been teaching for 31 years. And every year I have seen great talents. I would like to invite a few kids to the stage. They know who they are, and they have been the best group I have ever taught." He points to us and waves us all over. We get up and go towards him. Once we are in a line he continues.

"When you're a teacher, it's amazing to be able to educate the young minds of this generation. We don't just teach them math, science, literacy, history, or theater. We teach them these little things, things that don't seem important now, but will be in 10 years. We teach them the meanings of life, we teach them the life lessons that they will always use. We push them to follow their dream, and to set goals for themselves. We help them grow. They inspire us, and they are the reason we come into school every day. Yes they can be a pain in the neck sometimes… But if you really think about it, teachers don't get paid very much. There aren't many health benefits. There is only one other reason to teach… that is the kids. The inspirations, the dreams, the kids that we see every single day. We teach because we love to teach. If it wasn't for these children, we wouldn't be where we are right now. So, Tori, Andre, Robbie, Cat, Jade and Beck, I would like to thank for being my inspiration, for being the reason I smile every day, for being the reason I love doing what I do. Thank you. And to the class of 2013, go follow your dreams, do what you love, and show the world your potential, because you have a hell of a lot of it."

The crowd starts to cheer and clap. The caps go flying in the air and everyone starts screaming. Every way you look, people are kissing and hugging, holding hands and shaking them. Parents are congratulating kids and their friends.

"Hey baby! Congrats!" My mom says giving me a bug hug and kiss on the cheek. My dad gives me a hug too.

"Nice job son! You did great! And that speech… man it was amazing." He said to me with a smile.

"Thanks guys!" I said and smiled back.

"So, you obviously weren't staring at me the whole time…" My mom says putting her hand on my shoulder.

"No…I had someone else in mind." I say. The cheering was still going on. Some caps were still flying high and people were still hugging and kissing. "I need to go do something."

I walk away from my parents. I find my friends in a group around Cat and her mother. He mother lets go of her with a big grin. I walk up to her and tap her on the shoulder. She turns and I plant a soft kiss on her lips. She yanks me by the tie and then snakes her arms around my neck. I pull her closer to me. The kiss was that passionate but intense first. It was the kiss that changed everything. It was the kiss that showed our love. It was the kiss that I would never forget.

Finally we pull apart. Everyone's jaw was dropped. "You don't know how long I've been waiting for that." She says giving me another soft, short kiss.